IT firms relieved as Karnataka government clarifies on security rules for female employees

Infosys said it was "delighted" with the clarification. "It removes one big uncertainty for the industry," the co said. NASSCOM said the govt's clarification was a positive step.BENGALURU: As software and BPO firms in Bengaluru stared at a potential crisis arising out of a recent government policy on providing security to women staffers, the Information Technology department has sought to douse the tech sector's concerns by issuing a clarification on Wednesday .

An October 15 circular required companies to provide security to women employees leaving office at or after 6:45 pm. This left the tech firms agitated as they have been, for some time now, pressing the government to relax the rule by two hours in the evening. As of now, the companies are required to provide security to women employees commuting between their home and office between 8 pm and 6 am, and the companies have requested the government to push this to 10 p.m.

The circular noted that some of the information technology and BPO firms may not have been complying with statutory safety measures for the security of women employees.

"The government has facilitated IT-ITES sector by easing regulatory framework to a large extent. However, these exemptions should not be mis-utilized to the extent it compromises the safety of employees especially women employees," the circular from the IT department said.

The circular, signed by Principal Secretary , IT, V.Manjula, followed the rape of a BPO employee by two men in October. However, the Wednesday's clarification said the additional guidelines (6.45 pm rule) are "the best practices suggested for IT companies.

Therefore, it is not mandatory to follow the 6.45 pm clause. However, it is reiterated that the IT companies are responsible for the safety and security of the women employees working in nights shifts."

Karnataka's IT Vision Group head S 'Kris' Gopalakrishnan said the private sector is committed to the safety of women employees, but the government too should play its part well."The IT department should hear the difficulties of small and mid-tier ITBPO firms before floating an idea," he said.

Ramadas Kamath, executive vice-president at Infosys, said his company is yet to receive the clarification, but noted that the government is conveying the impression that Bengaluru is not a safe city after 6.45 pm.

"We are living in a safe city where there is public transport. So it is in the best interests of the economy and job creation that we push the timings to 10 pm instead of 8 pm now."

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, independent director on the Infosys board, said she was not in agreement with the original plan to provide transport for women staff after 6.45 pm. "The government should focus on how to enforce measures to ensure safety of women rather than put the onus on the private companies.The government should demonstrate far more commitment to law enforcement than to expect the private sector to provide security," she said.

Manjula, however, told ET that the her department had only reiterated the provisions of the law as contained in the Karnataka Shops and Establishments Act and Rules, which prescribes providing transportation and security to women staffers working or leaving office after 8 pm in ITITES and BPO companies.

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